Saturday, October 27, 2012

This was from our last Halloween with Loki (and second last with Gemi). At the time we knew it was Loki's last and even so this didn't allow him to escape being dressed up. In our house, dying and being on a huge drug cocktail is not enough to save you from participating in Halloween!

Loki hated being dressed up, but was always tolerant of it (like he was tolerant of everything). Princess Gemi did it but hated it. Fighting dressing up was below her.

I love this picture of the two of them, I think the looks on their faces are priceless and thought I would share for our Halloween blogs.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

In our house, Halloween is probably almost as big a deal as our winter holidays (Hanukkah and Christmas - no we are not Jewish, and we aren't Christian, so we celebrate both). We have more Halloween decorations then any other holiday. The Man LOVES Halloween. He loves gross creepy Halloween, which freaks Lady out. She loves cute fun Halloween. Her favourite part of it is dressing the pets up.

We will be celebrating the holiday on the blog by sharing some fun pictures of the pets dressed up now and until the big day!

Enjoy this creepy pet torture!

We are black cats, we really don't need to dress up! But don't worry, there are pictures to come of them dressed up.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I think the Lady in the house spends too much time dealing with those stupid dogs. I think she forgets I was her first baby and am the best baby. So I have hijacked this blog today to tell people about a day in my life. I am sure you will all find it much more interesting than a day with those stupid dogs.

I start my day by greeting the Lady at the bedroom door. I like to lay so she basically trips over me. I use this as a time to remind those stupid dogs that I could kill them if I wanted to. I like to keep them in their place.

Napping in the basket that is just for me.

I then wait patiently for the Lady to give me my special food. She feeds me on the counter so the dogs can't get my food. Sometimes Nin will try and steal some food, I let him have some when I am done.

After all the morning excitement it is time for a nap. The lights on the counter are very warm, so I take a nap on the counter.

Nin at the front, me at the back having a nap.

My paw sticking out of my fav sleeping spot

Eventually I get tired of the counter and I grab a drink, tell the dogs off and settle on the couch for a nap. I have the dogs trained to leave me alone and I basically get the couch to myself. I generally don't mind sharing the couch with Nin, as long as he doesn't try to hump me or wrestle. My old body doesn't like wrestling.

After some time, I will feel nature calling so I will saunter to the litter box. On the way I will likely tell the dogs off again. All this effort will require another nap in my favourite sleep place, under the table between the washer and dryer. The Lady has left bedding for me here. I like to sleep here as no one disturbs me and I don't have to worry about a dog sniffing me or looking at me as they are not allowed in.

My evenings really depend on my mood. I usually come out and demand some more soft food. If I am in the mood I may join the pack on the couch. It is a good chance to show my dominance over the dogs.

Those are the highlights of my life. As you can see, it is really hard to be me.

The Lady says to remind everyone starting tomorrow is pet humiliation, I mean Halloween on the blog. Whatever she says about me and my costume is a lie, I didn't purr. I hated it!

Monday, October 22, 2012

We are happy to report that we didn't have accidents in the house Thursday or Friday. We have created this temporary solution to blocking the basement. The chairs allow the cats to go up and down, but keep the dogs from going down. Not going down = no accidents.

We have also changed Zaphod's feeding schedule. After lots of reading and research we determined that maybe we were feeding him too much food now that he is at his ideal body weight. So now he is getting 4 cups plus treats instead of 5. We are also only giving 1 cup in the morning and 3 at night. He is now just pooping 2 times a day. He gives the sad eyes in the morning when you only give him one cup in the morning so we may start to play with that.

We did have some accidents Saturday. Saturday am, when I first got up Lee snuck downstairs while I was in the bathroom and pooped on the floor. This is very unusual. She can usually wait while we go to the bathroom. I guess she was desperate.

Snuggles in bed

Then on Saturday we ran to the hardware/grocery store (out here in the country it is one store, you can get beer, bananas and a wheelbarrow, how great is that - it is like a general store!). When we got back someone (Lee) had taken 2 tupperware containers off the counter and chewed them up. When the Man was verbally scolding the dogs and making them sit and wait while I cleaned it up, our poor Phod got scared and had an accident. It breaks my heart that having a voice raised to him does this to him. I hate whoever did that to him. However, I wish it had ANY effect on my Lee! For this accident, we just cleaned it up without drawing any attention to it.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The other day we drove our lady crazy. After refusing to settle all day and asking to go out every 30 minutes even with a walk and play, Phod ran away. This was very bad. The Lady was still upset and desperately trying to finish a project, but we thought her being insane was way more fun. So Lee scratched at the door repeatedly. For like 1.5 hours. The Lady took her out a couple times and she just wanted to play.

When the Lady finally finished her work, she feed us and took us out so we would "let her cook dinner in peace." We didn't let her do that. We kept bugging her and finally she snapped and realized she needed a time out. So she unjustly took us outside, in the dark, it must have been the middle of the night [Editor's note - it was 7 pm, it is just dark at that time] and put us on our tie outs. She left us out there forever [Editor's note - it was about 10 minutes]! We thought she would never come and get us, so I guess she got even.

In the end, we think it was worth the pain. Driving her insane was fun!

Friday, October 19, 2012

I have the pleasure of working at home sometimes, not often enough, but at least one day a week. Usually it goes very well. It looks something like this:

These pictures are taken while I am doing a Skype consult!

However this week on Wednesday, the 2 of them drove me insane!

We did our morning routine with a shorter walk because I knew I would be taking them out more. Hailey kept bugging to go outside and then just wanted to be out there. It made me want to go out and build a dog run (which I think will be a must have in the spring).

Then around 4:30, Hailey would not let up on wanting to go out. This is about the time the man normally gets home so I took them out. The minute I opened the door I knew I was screwed, I smelt the fox. There was nothing I could do but keep calling as Phod disappeared down the hill in the back, which caused Hailey to lose her mind and scream. I waited a few minutes calling as generally he comes right back. I could hear all the dogs over a street barking and knew he had gone far. I had to drag a screaming Hailey back into the house, grab my coat (it is cold out) and leash and then squeeze out the door without Lee escaping.

Slowly I started walking in the direction he had run, calling his name and periodically pausing to listen for him coming. Just as I hit the path in the bush (which in places runs beside the road), I heard him and to my relief and horror, he was walking on the road. It appears he was heading for home.

As soon as he heard my voice, he turned and came through the bush to me.

The whole thing was less than 10 minutes, but it felt like forever. I did my best to remain calm, and take deep breathes, although my heart was pounding so hard I thought it would explode.

Once we returned, Lee was thrilled to see him and the two wrestled and played.

New rule: Phod goes out on leash. If we assess nothing is around, he goes off. He has had a few mini take offs the past few days and my heart can't take it!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Chelsea at http://raszobai.weebly.com/1/post/2012/10/a-letter-to-your-dog.html? has challenged all dog owners to write a letter to their dog(s). Here is my attempt.

My dearest Hailey and Zaphod,

There are some things you should know. In my house, you are the sun and the moon. And while you may feel I neglect you etc, every decision I make in my life takes you into account. This includes the big decisions (such as finding our new house) to little decisions (can we go out for dinner tonight and leave the dogs, can we settle into a movie or should we take the dogs out). You are the centre of my universe.

Much of my spare time is spent thinking about you and what I can do to make your life better. I read things and researches them and try my best to give you a great life. Sometimes I will not be as patient with you as I should. Some days you will fray my nerves. You must remember I am a person, and unlike dogs am not perfect. I will make mistakes, but I am trying my best to be the best Lady possible.

I know sometimes you think I worry too much about you and that I have rules you don't like. Before I had you both I had two other dogs. Two other dogs who were also the centre of the universe. They both died in spite of my best attempts to prolong their lives. I will always have the time I spent with them (8 and 6 years respectively), but I don't have their future and that is hard. It is my goal in life to give you a future. I want you to see the double digits in age. I want you to see them in good health. It is part of my job to keep you healthy and safe. This is why I scold when you run away or get angry when you eat something you shouldn't. First I want you to be healthy and safe, and then I want you to be happy.

In the event you do become sick or hurt, know I will do everything reasonable to make you better. Know that a decision to say goodbye to you will only be done if deemed the best thing to do for you - if there is no other treatment and/or allowing you to live will mean allowing you to suffer unnecessarily. I will never let you suffer unnecessarily. I promise to put my feelings aside and do the best for you. Know money will never be a factor in my choice. Know my heart will break a little that day and the scar will never fully heal.

While I want you to be safe and healthy, I do want you to be happy. I hope you feel half the joy and happiness I do when I am with you. I love seeing you waiting by the front door when I pull into the driveway. I love the enthusiasm with which you greet me. I love watching you run free and play. I love when you learn a new trick. I love watching Phod swim and Lee eat the waves. I love our morning walks together. I love when you curl up on my lap or beside me and sleep.

I want you to know that my love for you is truly unconditional. History has shown that there is nothing you can do to make me stop loving you and caring for you. I hope you do not take advantage of this and intentionally do bad things. This unconditional love will come with a bit of a price for you. I will do things like dress you up and embarrass you to get even for the holes in the wall, poop on the floor and other mischief.

I think I am a very lucky Lady to have you in my life. My life would be dull and boring without you. If you weren't here, something would be missing. You make me happier and healthier than I would be without you. For that I thank you.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

We have 2 issues we want to know if anyone in blogiverse can help us with.

1) Mr. Phod
Somedays Mr. Phod is not able to hold his poop while we are out and some days he goes in the games room. We have not found a pattern to this. It happens days he has 2 poop mornings, it doesn't happen days he only went once. Last week it only happened 2 days, so far this week it has happened 2 days. If he is crated and has to go he will still go. It rarely happens on weekends, but we tend not to go out much then.

Ideas on what to do?

2) Miss Lee
She needs a good no slip collar, she keeps getting out of hers. We make it tighter and it quickly stretches again. Any recommendations for a brand/type I may find here in Canada?

Monday, October 15, 2012

The Lady goes to get up. She does not know Baggy is sleeping on the floor beside her chair. She trips over Baggy, in his attempts to escape, he moves with her and she keeps tripping. She saves herself by grabbing the railing.

For a split second she thinks she is going to go over, but she doesn't thankful. Her thought is, "Are you guys trying to kill me this week?" as she nurses her strained ankle.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

After cleaning up a garbage bag of fluff from the floors (I should have taken a picture, but I was a little embarrassed how bad it was), I have banned babies with fluff in them. I am sure a revolt will follow!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Note: Since I last talked about a bad walk yesterday (one we are pretending never happened), let's talk about the positive aspects of walking.

I have been working with a natural path for the past 5 months to address some health concerns I have had. While we haven't solved everything, the sacrifice of limited dairy and no gluten has made a big difference in my life for my overall physical wellbeing. I have discovered in my mid-30s that it is not normal to live with gut pain!

Man, I am tired after that walk

During my last visit, my natural path asked me if I had lost weight. I said I didn't know, I don't own a scale and I am a person who is completely oblivious to my own and others weight loss. It has to be the biggest loser type dramatic difference for me to notice . . . . so she pulled out her scale and I am happy to say that I have lost 10 pounds and am now 1 pound over my ideal body weight. My % of body fat has dropped 6% and is now the top of acceptable and I have added 3% muscle mass.

The doctor asked what I had done to achieve such great results. First, I had taken out dairy and gluten, which does eliminate a lot of my favourite not so healthy treats (oh how I miss Mars bars and most types of chips). I also am making sure to eat my veggies. But I think the biggest secret to my success has been my dogs. I think moving to the country where I can't have a dog walker (Stephanie we do miss you - especially at 5:30 am when we are out walking), getting a second big dog, and not having a place where they can go outside alone has me walking more. And when wild life goes by and I am holding on for dear life, I get my strength training. I attribute much of this success to them.

So since I don't spend much time in the ditch, all this walking is good for me. Let's hope we can lose that last pound . . . .

Note: Hailey has lost weight too. We are upping her food as we think she is getting too skinny!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Editors note: The Lady hates Thursdays. She thinks they are the worst day in the week. She has a firm belief that no good comes from this day. It is what one gets for naming the day after Thor, god of thunder.

The Lady's eyes pop open 10 minutes before her alarm is about to go off. She silently groans as she reads 4:53 am on the clock. She lays there for a few minutes and gets up. The next half hour is a quiet one of feeding dogs, packing lunches and getting half ready for work.

At 5:35 the Lady slips into her Merrels, slips collars around the dogs necks, and off they go on a walk into the cool, crisp morning. The Lady is amazed at how wonderful the stars look. The first 1.5ish km of the walk are uneventful, in fact the dogs are walking better than usual. Only 2 cars pass. The dogs do their business. On the last .5 km, the Lady and dogs stop as a car passes. The Lady is holding the dogs in one hand.

Suddenly Zaphod lunges at the fence, Hailey too and the next thing the Lady knows she has landed hard in a ditch. She is flat on her belly, her legs are under her like she is sitting sort of cross legged. The dogs are still in one hand pulling. After a quick assessment, the Lady realizes no major injuries, but she is being pulled slowly in a ditch by the dogs. Hailey has gone one way and Phod the other. She is trying to pull them back, but it is hard laying on her belly. They are not responding to vocal commands (aka yelling). Out of desperation to be able to get up, the Lady swings her free hand to give Phod a swat to try and get his attention in hopes he will stop pulling so she can get up. The Lady would like to make it clear that this was a swat and not a hit and that at the time laying face down in a ditch in the pitch black, sort of being dragged on her belly she didn't feel she had a lot of other options. The Lady has had a momentary lapse that Phod was abused, so he interprets this swat as a beating comes and flips over to his back and starts shaking. This is when the Lady started to cry. She tried to give comfort to Phod, but he was just a puddle on the ground.

The Lady realizes she is not being pulled anymore, so she is able to pick her crying self up off the ground. She is able reach down and assure Phod she loves him and he is ok. She realizes Hailey has totally missed this looking at whatever she was looking at. The pack then makes their slow way home, amid tears.

The Lady finishes getting ready and goes to work. The Man takes the dogs out for more business (Lee had 2 morning poops and Phod 3which is unusual) and goes to work.

As the day goes on, the jolt from the Lady's fall begins to catch up with her. Her hands and forearms hurt, she has a pulled muscle in her back and neck and there are spots on her legs she expects bruises. She is thankful that is all.

The Man is the first one home and he comes home to pee and poop all over the basement. The Lady is not sad that she didn't have to clean that up.

The Man and the Lady, who love their dogs very much look at each other and had that rare pet owner moment when you wish you didn't have them.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

This is delayed because my Lady said she had other blogs she wanted to post first. Sigh!

Last weekend was busy with the long weekend.

Lee helping with the pinball machineh

I learned not to be a toad in my mouth. It tastes yucky and makes my mouth foam. This does not stop me from trying to find toads every time we go out. My Lady says it is getting cold enough we probably won't see them much until spring.

I helped put the new pinball machine together. My Lady says I should point out it isn't really new, it is a 1968 machine, but it is new to us. I am not interested in playing it, just building.

Leave me and I will eat my leash!

We had Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday. My aunt C and her fiance and my Aunt Darlene were able to come. Aunt D had never met Zaphod, I think she loved him more. My lady says it was a good think they came, cause Aunt C did some emergency leash shopping as I chewed mine on Friday night while my people where doing errands.

Sunday my people tortured me by being outside doing work and not letting me out. My Lady said I would not be safe with the chopping of wood. I disagree. Then on Sunday night they tried to take me out for a bonfire. It was too cold and dark and I didn't like it. I was very happy when they brought me back in.

Monday was a little less busy. We had to do the photo shoot. I found having to pose for pictures interfered big time with my sniffing and searching. But to make up for it my Lady made us kongs. We don't get enough of these. It took Phod a minute to figure out what to do, but then we both had a good chew.

Overall it was an ok weekend. Looking forward to adventures this coming one!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Today, on what would have been our late Loki's birthday, we remember him for his spirit (I was going to say in health, but he spent much of his short life very ill). May the rainbow bridge have lots of bunnies to chase!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Lee said if I was going to make her blog about what she is thankful for, I needed to blog about it too.

I have a lot to be thankful this year. We have moved to our dream house on our dream lot. My pack has expanded to include the most wonderful dog. My pack is all healthy, Baggy's kidneys are fine, Nin is not showing any signs of his 17 years. Hailey seems to be adjusting to her new home and life. I am thankful for the Man who really is the silent partner that keeps us all afloat!

I am thankful to the families who allow me to work everyday with their children. I have a great job.

I am thankful for my family and friends. They have offered so much support during the transition to rural life!

I am thankful for all the people who made Hailey and Zaphod's rescues possible. Our lives would not be complete without them (in fact I fear without them we may be boring!).

I am thankful for all of my readers and fellow pet bloggers and all the pet rescuers. You are all very inspiring and I love being a virtual part of your life and having you part of ours.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Note: Pictures to follow. I realize I have no pictures with me and Phod, so we are going on a photo shoot this afternoon!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

I am thankful to Gloria, Jenn and everyone at Catahoula who helped get me out of that scary place and find people who love me so much.

I am thankful for my Lady and Man and Lee and Nin and Baggy (even if he scares me). I love them all so much I may be thankful I got lost or dumped or whatever. I think they love me more then where I was before.
I am thankful that Baggy has not killed me in the night like he says he can do every day.
I am thankful to have food every day.
I am thankful for brushes.
I am thankful for playing ball (even if my people don't play it enough, maybe I can train them. The Big Guy knows how to play it better).
I am thankful for swimming in the lake (although I am a little sad it is getting to cold).
I am thankful for love and pets and babies and toys.
Really I am just thankful for everything.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

My Lady says this weekend is time to reflect on what I am thankful for. She says I am a lucky dog and should be grateful. While I think she is mean and hates me for leaving me and hates me even more for leaving me in my hug (aka thunder shirt), to make her happy (I don't want Phod to be the favourite), I will come up with some things I am thankful for.

Not thankful for the Thunder Shirt

I am thankful I have Nin to hump.
I am thankful my Lady lets me sleep on her legs even when she gets a cramp.
I am thankful to have a good friend like Phod to play with. I would be more thankful if he was naughty and didn't set the standard for dog behaviour so high in this house.
I am thankful I am now a Canadian citizen and I don't have to deal with American politics.
I am always thankful for Gloria, Kelly and all the other people at Catahoula Rescue who saved my life. Even though I like to complain, I think being alive and with my Lady, who is trying and maybe I can train her yet, is better than being dead.
I am thankful for all the other people who help homeless dogs like me.
I am thankful for sites like dog-shaming.com and other people's blogs that show my Lady I am not the worst dog ever.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(I would be Thankful if I could catch one of the turkeys that live in our yard!)

Friday, October 5, 2012

This is a post about our deer friends. I got home from work the other day and 2 deer were in our yard. One ran out of sight but the other stayed. You can probably just make her out in the middle of the page. I was able to get out of the car and stand and watch for 2 minutes before the deer quietly turned around and walked away. It was beautiful and amazing.

I wonder if I will see this deer again. It is hunting season until the end of today and several times in the last week the dogs and I have heard gun shots. Once was in the morning only a few minutes after 4 deer crossed our path. The other was in the evening while in the yard. And once while sitting in the kitchen. Hailey was fine with the noise when we were walking but when we were in the yard, she just wanted to come in.

I am a meat eater, but I must say, I am not sure I like hearing gun shots in my neighbourhood, even if it is hunting. I guess I need to adjust! I am just glad the season is short!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Lady: Wednesday is suppose to be my work at home day but I had to attend a meeting this week, so I booked a full day out and will work at home Friday (aka 4 day weekend, thanks to Thanksgiving!). The Man is always out on Wednesday evenings, so I rushed home from my meeting 70 km away. Of course I was in such a rush I didn't stop at the Lady's room before I left so by the time I got to the driveway, I really, really had to go. I basically parked on the front lawn and tore into the house, throwing keys, and jumping over the garbage that was all over the front hall.

Phod: I was so confused when my Lady came in the front door and not the garage, but I was happy to see her. I gave her kisses but then I went away because I figured she would scold me for destroying the garbage.

Lee: I thanked god she was home and she would take off my stupid thunder shirt or hug as she called it.

Lady: After my potty break, I went to take the dogs out and discovered in my haste, I had left the front door open and the two were doing zoomies around.

Lee: FREEDOM!

Phod: Man does Lee run fast.

Lady: I let them run and then called them for a walk, put them on leash and walked to get the mail.

Lee: Freedom killer.

Phod: So glad to be walking.

Lady: After I walk, I decided to put the house right. I then took a few minutes to clean up the mess, check for other messes (none, yay!) and move my car to the garage. I then thought before it got dark (because boy, does it get dark early), we would out front and play some ball. Since Lee was so good when free I had her on her tie out, without it being tied to anything. Lee was sniffing around and Phod and I were playing ball. I threw the ball toward the driveway and as Phod went after it, he hit it across the road and into the horse pasture. I have no idea how he got threw the fence but he did.

Lee: Mmmm, I am eating grass at this point.

Phod: I had to get the ball so I squeezed through the fence. I was glad the horses were in another part of the pasture. I knew I needed to get back. I walked to a clear part in the 4 foot fence and jumped over it.

Lady: I was impressed with his jumping.

Lee: I am not feeling well, no one has noticed. I started to throw up.

Lady: It looked like bile and grass. I wonder if it was from the garbage, the running free or what.

Phod: I got mad that my Lady wasn't throwing my ball.

Lady: We went inside, I made them wait a little for dinner and then Lee had rice and Phod had his food. Lee has seemed fine after dinner as she had a great rumble with Phod while I was on the phone trying to find out about a dear friend's radiation treatment. My friend, an animal lover extreme, found it all rather funny. I think mornings at the zoo are much easier to deal with then afternoon!

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About Us

This is the adventures of an average Lady, her Man, and two dogs.
Feel free to email us at leeandphod@bell.net [That is Lee and Phod!]
The pictures and content here belong to our Lady. Do not use without permission.